Forest Oil Corporation (FST) reported its third-quarter 2009 earnings of 48 cents per share, compared with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 53 cents and a year-ago profit of $1.26. Before adjusting one-time items, earnings were $1.53 per share. The results came in below expectations mainly due to lower sales volumes.

Sales volumes for the quarter came in at 476 MMcfe/d (77% natural gas), down 9% from 520 MMcfe/d in the corresponding 2008 period. The decrease in production was due to deferred and divested volumes.

During the quarter, production expenses decreased approximately 24% year-over-year to $1.17 per Mcfe, mainly on the back of a fall in production. Unit general and administrative expenses for the quarter was essentially flat year-over-year to 28 cents per Mcfe, while depreciation and depletion expenses for the quarter decreased 48% year-over-year to $1.49 per Mcfe due mainly to a non-cash ceiling test write-down of oil and gas

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EOG Resources Inc. (EOG) reported third-quarter earnings of 81 cents per share, compared with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 65 cents and a year-ago profit of $2.34. Before adjusting one-time items, earnings were 2 cents per share. Despite an increase in production volumes, earnings were down from the year-earlier level due primarily to significantly lower commodity price realizations.

Total volumes during the quarter increased approximately 4% year-over-year to 195.9 billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe), or 2,129 million cubic feet equivalent per day (MMcfe/d), 76% of which was natural gas and 24% liquids. Natural gas volumes decreased 3% year-over-year, led by an approximately 6% decrease in the U.S. volumes to 1,128 MMcf/d, and more than 2% decrease in Canadian volumes to 219 MMcf/d.

Crude oil and condensate production during the quarter was 59.5 thousand barrels per day (MBbl/d), up nearly 23% from the year-ago level. This was primarily driven by a

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Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (RRGB), the casual dining restaurant operator, recently reported dismal third-quarter 2009 results. The quarterly earnings of 37 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny and fell 17.8% from 45 cents posted in the prior-year quarter.

Total revenue tumbled 10.4% year-over-year to $187 million, as cash-strapped consumers are either trading down to quick-service restaurants or preferring to eat at home, leading to fall in traffic and same-store sales.

Same-store sales fell 14.9% for company-operated restaurants, driven by a 13.8% decline in guest counts and a 1.1% fall in the average guest check. Management expects guest count to decline in fiscal year 2009. Same-store sales for franchised restaurants in the U.S. dropped 14.4% and franchised restaurants in Canada fell 0.2%.

Other operators in the casual dining segment are Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI), Brinker International Inc. (EAT) and Cosi Inc. (COSI).

Red Robin's

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CBS Corporation (CBS) recently reported better-than-expected third-quarter 2009 results. The quarterly earnings of 25 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 22 cents, but fell 35.9% from 39 cents posted in the prior-year quarter.

On a reported basis, including one-time items, quarterly earnings of 30 cents a share improved from quarterly loss of $18.58 delivered in the year-ago quarter.

The sequential rise in revenue and the cost containment drove the earnings growth. Total revenue climbed 11.4% sequentially to $3,350 million in the quarter, but tumbled 0.8% year-over-year. However, the rate of year-over-year decline sharply decelerated from 11% and 14% experienced in the second and the first quarters of fiscal year 2009, respectively.

By segments, television revenue jumped 9.3% to $2,269 million, driven by a rise in television license fees (up 36%) and affiliate revenue (up 11%), partly offset by softness in local advertising revenue (down 5%). Publishing revenue climbed

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OGE Energy Corp. (OGE) reported third quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $1.40, topping the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate of $1.34. However, EPS in the reported quarter came a dime short, compared to the year-ago EPS of $1.50.  Earnings were boosted in the reported quarter by strong results at Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E), offset by cooler weather in the OG&E service territory, lower commodity prices in the Enogex midstream pipeline business and an increase in the number of shares outstanding.  In the reported quarter, OG&E registered earnings of $1.26 per share, compared to $1.15 per share in the year-ago quarter. Enogex recorded earnings of 18 cents per share, compared to 30 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. The holding company, including results from the OGE Energy Resources marketing business, posted a loss of 4 cents per share, compared to earnings of 5 cents per ...

We are raising our estimates for Moody's Corp. (MCO) for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 and full year of fiscal 2010 due to continued resurgence in the company's results. Moody's is an industry leader in the credit rating industry and enjoys a high organic growth rate, along with strong profit margins and cash flows.  Results for the first nine months of 2009, although below year-ago level were better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, reflecting an improvement in credit markets and growth in Moody's Analytics business.  We believe that Moody's remains a solid franchise in rating debt instruments and will show substantial growth with its diversified credit research business model and international growth.  The company raised its outlook for fiscal 2009, for the second time this year, due to continuing strength in corporate debt issuance. Earnings per share, is expected to range between $1.60 and $1.68, up ...

Grupo Televisa S.A. (TV), the largest media company in Mexico, reported mixed financial results for the third quarter 2009. Quarterly consolidated net revenue of $970 million was an improvement of 5.5% over the prior-year quarter. However, this was below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $983 million.

The year-over-year increase in the top-line was mainly attributable to healthy revenue growth in Sky, Cable & Telecom, Programming Exports, Pay television Networks, and Other Business segments, partially offset by a fall in revenue in Publishing and Television Broadcasting segments.

Quarterly consolidated net income was $174.8 million, up 3.8% year-over-year. Third-quarter EPGDS (Earnings per Global Depository Shares) was 31 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 29 cents. This was primarily due to effective control of operating expenses, as well as a significant reduction of integral cost of financing.

Quarterly operating segment income (excluding corporate expenses and depreciation & amortization) was $395 million, up 1.5%

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Last night, VeriSign, Inc. (VRSN) reported revenues of $258 million from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2009.

Core businesses (Internet Infrastructure and Identity Services) generated revenues of $257 million, up 1% sequentially and up 6% year-over-year. Revenues from discontinued operations came in at $41 million.

Operating margin came in at 38.6%, marginally up from the previous quarter. Net income was $64 million. Earnings per share (EPS) of 33 cents easily beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 28 cents.

During the quarter, the company generated $105 million of cash from operations and used $25 million in capital expenditures. The company ended the quarter with cash and equivalents of $1.4 billion, an increase of $124 million from the previous quarter. As of September 30, 2009, deferred revenue came in at $881 million.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, VeriSign completed the sale of its Global Security Consulting business, and Messaging and

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International Game Technology (IGT) reported adjusted earnings of 19 cents per share during fiscal 2009 fourth quarter, compared to a net income of 28 cents in the year-ago quarter. The result topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3 cents.  In the quarter, the company recorded non-cash charges of approximately $77.2 million, or 26 cents per share to give effect to a reduction in the carrying value of its investment in Walker Digital Gaming Inc. These charges also included a decline in the value of its Las Vegas Gaming International investment and foreign deferred tax provision.  Total revenue fell 18.6% to $514.6 million from the year-ago quarter, primarily due to weakness in product revenue (45% of total revenue), which fell 23.2% to $231.4 million, while units shipped worldwide decreased 30% year-over-year. Revenue from Gaming Operations (55% of total revenue) decreased 14.4% year over year to $283.2 million due to the lower play ...

Avnet, Inc. (AVT) recently reported revenues of $4.36 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2010, down 3.1% from a year ago. Excluding the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rates, revenues declined 0.6%.

Management stated that the impact of global slowdown led to the year-over-year decline, but the business environment is improving.

On a segment basis, Electronics Marketing (EM) sales came in at $2.44 billion, down 9.8% year over year (down 8.0% when adjusted to exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates). The rate of revenue decline moderated in the reported quarter and management is encouraged by pace of bookings for this segment in recent months.

Technology Solutions (TS) generated sales of $1.92 billion, up 6.9% year over year (up 10.5% when adjusted to exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates), driven by growth in Americas and Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA).

The company

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